The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the Government to withdraw the Freedom of Information Amendment Act, which is due to go before Seanad Éireann tomorrow.
The union warned the Government's action in failing to consult interested parties undermines the credibility of the social partnership process.
The NUJ's Irish Secretary, Mr Séamus Dooley, claimsed that the Bill damages the current Act and the Government have "got it wrong" on this occasion.
"The Government is currently advocating acceptance of a new national partnership process," he said. At the same time the Minister for Finance, cheered on by the Minister for Justice, seems intent on tearing the heart out of the Freedom of Information Act without any consultation whatsoever."
"How can we believe commitments about social and economic reforms when the rights of citizens are trampled upon in such an arrogant fashion?" he asked.
The union is calling for the withdrawal of the Bill and the making of provisions for detailed public consultation on the issue.
The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill was published last Friday. Its provisions, which include increasing the delay in the release of Cabinet papers from five years to at least ten, have attracted widespread criticism from Opposition parties, civil liberties' groups and the NUJ.
